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FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH VOLDEMORT

FIRST
ENCOUNTER WITH VOLDEMORT

Sirius, Peter
and James walked out of the Shrieking Shack and hid behind a tree just inside
the forest. The sun was coming up as Madame Pomfrey brought Remus up to the
castle from the Whomping Willow.

James
remembered something. 'Wormtail, where's the cloak?'

Peter turned
pink, 'Oh, I think I left it in the forest before we transformed.'

‘I can't
believe you forgot it!'

'It wasn't my
fault! I thought I heard a noise so I was busy looking for it.

'You'd better
go before James gets angry,' said Sirius.

'Can you come
with me? I don't want to go in there by myself.

'You'll go in
there by yourself Wormtail because you were the one that left it behind!'

'I told you
he'd get mad. You really need to calm down James. No need to get worked up over
a cloak.

'Shut up
Sirius! 'It's been there for hours. If some creatures run off with it,
Wormtail, I'll never forgive you!

'Alright!',
said Peter squeakily, 'I'll go!

With a walk of
defeat, Peter turned to the dark forest.

An eerie mist
floated through the forest as Peter shuffled along, shivering. As he moved
further into the forest the trees grew thicker and thicker until there was
hardly a path left to follow.

'Why did Sirius and James choose to come this
far into the forest?' he said aloud.

He moved into
the clearing and looked around frantically for James' cloak.

'James is
going to kill me!’ moaned Peter when he couldn't find it.

He walked
around hoping that he would find the familiar, silvery cloak.

After 1/2 an
hour of earnest searching, he went back to the clearing and sat down on the
forest floor gloomily. Better for him to stay here than face James' wrath if he
came back empty handed. He picked up a leaf from the ground and angrily teared
it to shreds.

He was such a
coward!

Why
did he even choose to befriend James, Sirius and Remus? It's not like they even
wanted him in their group. They could probably do without him laughing shrilly
at everything they said. They probably thought he was bloody annoying. He just
didn't feel like he fit in.

'I'll give it
to you', said Voldemort nonchalantly, his red eyes glittering with amusement.'

Even Peter
wasn’t foolish enough to believe it would be as simple as that. He looked
around nervously, hoping to find someone who could save him.

'I need your
help, Wormtail.'

'My...my
help?' Peter looked uncertain.

'James Potter.
I need information about him, Wormtail.

What could
Voldemort want with James?

The Potter
family did have a lot of prestige in the wizarding society.

'What... what
type of information?"

‘What does
James Potter plan to do after he graduates Hogwarts this year?'

If you tell
me, you may have the cloak back.'

Peter
considered the situation carefully. I...I won't. James is my friend. I won’t
betray him.

Voldemort
laughed with unnatural mirth.

'Wormtail,
don't try being brave. It isn't you.

I have watched
you and your so-called 'friends' ever since your first year. I knew that you
would be the one who would succumb to my wishes. You do not have any real
loyalty to them. Remus and Sirius have too much love for their friend that they
would rather die than betray them. Fools.' His eyes narrowed as he looked
towards Peter. 'Now, tell me what I want to know.'

He could be
brave, thought Peter. He could be like Sirius and Remus and stand up to
Voldemort.

'I won't,'
said Peter in what he hoped was a defiant voice. Was Voldemort going to kill
him? Peter shut his eyes tight; dreading what was to come.

'Crucio!'

Pain soared
through his body, beyond anything he ever imagined. He howled with agony as he
fell to the ground writhing. The pain was unbearable; he couldn't stand it!

'Stop!'

The pain
ceased.

'Yes,' said
Voldemort expectantly.

'James wants
to be an Auror.

He'll go
through Auror training. Then he will work for the ministry of Magic at the
Auror Headquarters.'

He chucked
over the cloak to Peter. You can go but don’t mention this meeting to anyone.
And just to make sure... Crucio.'

Once more
Peter felt the horrible pain in his body. He screamed. He was going to die. He
knew it. Just let him die, get it over with. Stop the pain. He clutched the
cloak to his chest. Suddenly the pain stopped. Was he flying? He stretched out
his arms, which immediately collided with something intensely hard. He opened
his eyes slowly to see a thick tree trunk, which he had obviously smashed into.

Next to it was
a Centaur. A half horse, half man with white blonde hair and astonishing blue
eyes.

Peter stood up
and approached the centaur cautiously.

'I am Firenze', it said gravely. 'You must
leave this forest. You needn't worry about Voldemort. The stars have informed
me that you will be needed later in time. It was not your time to die at that
point.' His eyes flickered to the cloak. 'Take that with you. And do not speak
of this to anyone. Follow this path and you will end up at the edge of the
forest. I must go.'

As Firenze turned to leave Peter called
out to him. 'Thank you for saving me.'

Firenze turned around to face him once more sympathy filled his eyes. 'For what
is to come? You will wish you had never been born!'

//

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